The Primate of All Ireland said people want "to preserve the beauty and sanctity of human life, particularly the most vulnerable of human lives"

As many as 25,000 pro-life campaigners marched through the centre of Dublin on Saturday. At one stage there was a face-off with a few hundred pro-choice supporters assembled on O'Connell Street.

In a homily ahead of the rally, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin reminded over 1,000 people gathered in St Saviour's church that Pope Francis had characterised abortion as a product of the throwaway culture and a men tality.